Sometimes I just can't deny that being a blogger has it's perks. I'm a member of FABB which is a group of Fashion and Beauty Bloggers in N.Ireland. We've all had some great nights out together doing reviews and talking nonstop abut make up, and when we were invited along to a 'Blogger Slumber Party' at the Malone Lodge, well try to imagine a facebook group full of excited girls - slumber party!

The Malone Lodge Hotel is a beautiful 119 room hotel located just off the Malone Road (not far from the city centre!) in Belfast. It's right near my house, but I couldn't resist a night in a hotel bed! The hotel has refurbished it's banquet hall and such a beautiful venue for weddings, parties, anything you can think of! There's also a new restaurant open in the hotel, Knife & Fork Grill, although the restaurant has it's own door and is accessible to the public and not just hotel guests.

Our huge group of bloggers arrived on Friday evening to a champagne reception, and shown to our gorgeous rooms. We were told to get into our pjs and head down to the lobby! On our beds there was a gift of a super cosy onesie courtesy of Bank. After leaving our stuff off and heading back downstairs we were shown around the hotel. Walking through a full restaurant in your pjs is definitely an experience! Haha!

Once we had looked around the gorgeous hotel we were led to our own relaxing pamper room! Tables of champagne, cocktails, cupcakes, a huge bed for us all to chill out on (several double beds pushed together - bliss!).

After having a few drinks, we headed into a candlelit room next door which was laid with beautiful tables for us to eat at and a selection of deli food from Knife & Fork (which is also available for takeaway! Good to know!). The food was just amazing.

Over the course of the evening we were treated to a slumber party to die for. We had skin treatments provided by Skin Medi Spa. I had an Elemis hand massage which was a welcomed treat since my hands are such a mess from my job. We planted ourselves on the massive bed, had a make up demonstration by Rebecca Bryson MUA (a fellow Fabb girl and make up artist) and watched Breakfast at Tiffany's while eating popcorn and chatting about anything and everything!

We were so comfortable and well looked after that I don't think the staff expected us to stay in our pamper rooms that late! We headed to bed around 1:30am, I snuck up to visit Dawn who was staying in the bridal suite. I am obsessed with hotels, I love them. To me, there's nothing more luxurious than staying in a hotel bed. I slept like a starfish that night.

We all met up in the morning for a cooked breakfast at Knife and Fork (delish!) and eventually we all head our seperate ways, I don't think any of us wanted to leave!

I'd really recommend Malone Lodge if you are planning a visit to Belfast. For me it's in the perfect location, it's a 10 minute bus ride from the city centre, but it's in an area that has loads of lovely pubs to visit but is still calm and relaxed. The Botanic Gardens are just down the road and so is the Ulster Museum and Queens University. If you want to see what it's actually like to live in Belfast, and not be stuck in the manic city centre, then this is where you should stay for sure. I actually had never stayed in any Belfast hotels before beacuse I live here, but it's something I would do again. I feel refreshed and like I have been on a mini holiday but without any of the stress of travelling.

Big thank you to all the staff of Malone Lodge who looked after us so well, and to Anna who invited us along. We had a great time, I think you'll have trouble keeping us away! For anyone wanting to visit Belfast, do check Malone Lodge out and bear in mind it is very close to many of the places I've suggested in my Belfast guide!

Just a quick outfit post! I wanted to see how the quality of my iphone would hold up for times I forget to bring my camera out and about. It isn't a bad substitute! Life lately has consisted of work work work and chaotic madness sorting out some other stuff. I'm trying to blog more here but I update my instagram several times a day if you want to follow me there - my username is frenchforcupcake!

It may be a short and sweet outfit post but you still get a song! I've been loving the new album from The Civil Wars - splashed out on the vinyl over the weekend. I'm kicking myself for not going to see them when they came here last week and now who knows if they will ever reconcile.

Anyone who reads my blog probably knows of my insane Game of Thrones obsession. As it's filmed here, Belfast was lucky enough to be one of the cities who got to host the Game of Thrones Exhibition in the Titanic building. This was back in June, but it's taken me that long to find my photos! I knew I had them hidden somewhere. The exhibition was free, and it was wonderful. I may have gone several times. Of course I showed up in one of my many Thrones tshirts, my Daenerys necklace, Direwolf bag...well you see where this is going. I didn't see one other person wearing anything thrones stuff. I looked super cool, obviously. Anyway - enjoy the snaps!

I was sent a set by Panache to review (several months ago, I am terrible!). I was asked to review a set from their new Sculptresse line, which is plus sized but unfortunately they sent me the wrong set. I am doing a short review anyway of the set they did send me, however I think most of you would prefer checking out the Sculptresse line.

This is the Andorra set from Panache's standard sizing line. I ordered a 40 back and a D cup as that's what I have most recently been measured at. I took these to Italy with me to wear under a black dress but unfortunately the sizing was just all wrong on me. The back was far too tight, and the cup size was too small. I had the dreaded double boob! I think if I wanted to wear Panache I'd have to go up at least 2 sizes in the back and the cup. The cup size may be partly my fault as I go between a D and a DD depending on which store I am in but usually a D but the back was cutting in to me.

As I didn't get to try the Sculptresse range, I can't comment on their sizing but I think they'd definitely be something I'd like to check out as the designs they offer are beautiful and they set I received is gorgeous and well made, just ill fitting. You can order sets from Panache online or if you want to try them on first, they are stocked in Debenhams.

Yum! A completely easy and tasty breakfast treat. Yeah, this isn't healthy. It's kind of like magic all rolled up in a slightly crispy, doughy sugared pillow. So there's that.

I made a little video for you to see how you can make these, but if you want step by step instructions check out The One Pot Chef's video. He's the best food youtuber there is! I want to make everything, and he's so cute. My sister and I love him.

I had a rare day off yesterday so I decided to make use of it and practice covering a cake in fondant. I haven't done this since I was about 14 in school home ec covering a Christmas cake. It's bloody stressful I'll tell you! I probably should have used proper sugarpaste but we had regal icing to use up. I think next time i'll use sugarpaste! I still have a lot of practice to do. I'm definitely a buttercream kinda gal.

The base of the cake is painted with a wash of diluted food colouring, the top is covered with buttercream swirls and handmade flowers. I'm eating a slice right now and it's delicious if I do say so myself, even if I need to vastly improve on the fondant front!